Forging-plant



Y (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. HAINSWORTI-I.

FORGING PLANT. y No. 317,767. Patented May 2, 1885.

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' W. HAINSWORTH.

PORGING PLANT.

Y No. 317,767. Patented May 12, 1885.

VVITNESS Mga-w71 N 'Vir/Q' ATTORNEY.

UNTTED STATES PATENT Urraca.

WILLIAM HAINSVORTH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FORGING-PLANT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,767, dated May 12,1885.

Application filed Dccennberil,1884.` model.) l

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HAINsWoRTH, acitizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania,have invented or discovered certain newand usefulImprovements in Forging; Plants, of which improvements the following isa specification.

In the accompanying drawings,which make part of this specification,Figure l is a sectional elevation `of my improved forging-plant. Fig. 2is a top plan view, the furnace being removed. Fig. 3- is a sectionalelevation of the plant, adapted to forging hollow articles. Fig. 4L is atop plan view of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view ofapartially-forgedingot.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of steelshafts, cannons,and gun-tubes, and other articles which are produced bycasting, condensing, and forging, or forging and condensing steel orBessemer metal. These articles have heretofore been produced by castingthe steel in largeingots and then condensing and forging such cast metalto shape by means of hydraulic presses or steamhammers.

In conducting the condensing and forging operations, so much of theingot, commencing at one end, as can be treated-z'. e., forged at onetimemis placed in a suitable furnace, and there heated to the propertemperature for Working. The ingot having the end thus heated is thentaken to the press or hammer, and the heated portion is then condensedand shaped. After this part or section has been properly pressed orforged the ingot is again put in the heating-furnace, and the nextsucceeding part or section is heated and then forged. These heating andforging operations are continued in regular succession until the wholeingot has been forged to shape and properly condensed, such forging andcondensing operations effecting a considerable elongation of the ingot.The heating and forging of one part or section of the ingot will produceacertain state or condition of the metal of that part, and when theingot is again placed in the furnace for heatingthefnext section to betreated a considerable/portion of that part which was first treated willbe highly reheated also. This reheating of a portion of the forged orshaped `and dense.

section Willchange the state or condition of themetal as produced by theprevious forging, 'and after the second section has been reheated thereWill be three or more different states or conditions of metal in theingot-as, for example, in Fig. 5 I have shown an ingot which has beenpartially treated, that part included between the lines a and c havingbeen heated and pressed to shape, such forging effecting a considerablecondensation and tension in the molecules of the metal. Now, if thatsection included between the lines c and e Were put in afurnace andheated to the proper Working temperature, at least a part of the sectiona c would be necessarily reheated, such reheated part lbeing representedby b c. As this reheating will of necessity change the con- ,dition orstate of the metal in the part b c,

there will result from the heating of the part c e three varying statesor tensions of metal in theingot so far treatedto Wit, the part from ato b will be hard and dense, the part b c will be dense but will vhavebeen annealed by the reheating, and the part c c will be soft andspongy. As the. heating and forging by sections continues these varyingtensions will be produced along the length-as, for example, the part a bWill be hard and dense, I) c dense but soft, c d dense and hard, thelatter quality being somewhat modified by its position between two softparts, b c and al e, and so on to the end last Worked, which Will behard These different conditions in the finished product are modified toa certain extent by heating the whole forging simultaneously to atempering-heat and then plunging it into an oil bath; but as the variousparts of the forging are, as above stated, in different conditions whensubjected to this tempering process,such process will effect only apartial restoration to homogeneity.

In addition to the above-described imper fections,the metal of theselarge forgings is subjected to dangerous strains by reason of the mannerin which the forging is effected-1J. e., With the article lying in ahorizontal plane and the, press acting in a vertical or horizontalplane. As the forging proceeds from one end toward the-opposite vendthere will be a IOO portion overhanging on each side of thesuportin0-anvil and as it is im ossible to su p b a P p port both endsin the same plane with thc top of the anvil, for the reason that thepart under operation must restirmly on the anvil, and to effect thisfirm supportthe ends of the article are supported a little lower thanthe part on the anvil, hence when the press is in operation the articlebeing forged is subj ected to shear-strains, such strains graduallyincreasing as the forging proceeds toward the center, where the strainwill be greatest.

The object of my invention is to provide for the simultaneous anduniform heat-ing of the whole of the ingot or article to be treated andfor the maintenance of such a heat throughout such portions of the ingotas await the action of the press, and, further, to prevent the reheatingof such parts as have been subjected to the condensing and forgingoperations 5 and it is afurther object of my invention to so arrange thevarious parts of my apparatus that the ingot or article under treatmentwill not be subjected to any shearing or other strains during forging,and so that the compressive or condensing force of the press will bemore effective, the elongation being resisted by the superincumbent massof metal; and a further object of my invention is to provide for auniform reheating of the whole forging preparatory to the tempering ofthe same in an oil bath; and to these ends myinvention consists in theconstruction and combination of parts, all as more fully hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

Upon a suitable bed or foundation, 1, are arranged the hydrauliccylinders 2 and 3, said cylinders being provided with suitable pistons,4 and 5, the outer end of thepiston 4 being suitably shaped to serve asthe moving head or gear in the forging operation, and the outer end ofthe piston 5 being adapted to serve as an anvil, as clearly shown.

. Upon posts or pillars 6, resting upon the bed or foundation 1, issupported the bed-plate 7, upon which is erected the verticalheatingfurnace 8, said furnace being provided with a number of gas jetsor burners, 9, haring connections with suitable gas generator or supply.The opening 10 in the plate 7, for the admission of the ingot or articleto be heated, is located directly above the meeting-point of the jaws ordies, and directly below said opening and meeting-point is formed a pit,11, said pit having a diameter considerably in excess of the diameter ofthe forging to be produced, and in the side of the pit,near the top,isformed the inclined chute 11,to allow of the lowering of the ingot ontothe piston in the pit. v The walls of this pit are formed by bricksarranged inside of a shell, 12, of boiler-iron. Below this pit 11 isformed an additional pit, 13, in which is located the hydraulic'ram 14,provided with a piston, 15, said piston being, if desired, proviled withradial guide-arms (not shown) bearing against the sides of the pit, andwith asocket, 16, for the reception of the end of the ingot or otherarticle to be treated. This socket,16 may be made removable from thepiston 15, and sockets of various sizes and shapes may be made for usewith the varying sizes and shapes of ingots to be forged. The pits 11and 13 are separated by a plate, 17, having a central opening for thepassage of the piston 15, said opening being provided with a'stufng-box,18, the purpose of which will be hereinafter stated. Over the mouth ofthe pit 11is arranged the plate 19, provided with a central opening, 20,for the passage of the piston 15 and any ingot or article restingthereon, and with an inspection or peep hole, 21.

In using the al'iove-dcscribed apparatus the ingot to be forged isplaced on the piston 15, the lower end of said ingot resting in -thesocket 16. This piston is then moved up, thus pushing the ingot up intothe furnace 8,which has been previously heated, the portion of theopening 10 not closed by the ingot being closed by a ring of fire-clayresting on the rim of the socket 16. The ingot is retained within thisfurnace until it is heated uniformly throughout its entire length to thedesired temperature, when it is lowered until that portion of it, nextadjacent to the socket 16 lies in the operative plane of the jaws of thepress. rlhe movingjaw is then operated, the opposite side of the ingotbeing braced or su pported by the anvil-die 5, said anvil being adjustedback and forth according as the ingot is reduced under the action of themoving jaw or head, and as new surfaces are presented as the ingot isturned, the latter operation being effected by a pair of tongs or othersuitable tool applied to the ingot between the press and the bottom ofthe furnace. As soon as one section or part, which will be approximatelyequal to the width of the face of the jaws, has been properly forged,the ingot is lowered until another section is brought between the jawsor dies of the press. Care should be taken in constructing the apparatusthat the distance between the bottom of the furnace and the press willnot to be so great that the ingot, in moving from the furnace to thepress, will be cooled below a forgiiig-temperature.

In practice the ingot should be removed from its mold and transferred tothe furnace as soon as its exterior is sufficiently hard to permit ofhandling and while its interior is in a fiuid or semi-fluid condition.The chilled shell is then heated to such a point that it will not becooled by its exposure during the movement from the furnace to the pressbelow a good forging-temperature.

It is an important characteristic of this method of vertical forgingthat the elongative effect of the transverse compression is resisted toa great extent by the superincumbent mass, the lower end being supportedby the hydraulic ram; and hence a portion of the force which produces anelongation in horizontal forging is utilized by my method in compactingthe metal.

Another important feature of my invention is that as soon as one part ofthe ingot is forged to shape it is lowered into a pit, where it isprotected from cooling currents of air, and is allowed to cool slowly,thus avoiding all strains incident to unequalcooling. Nor is a part onceforged to shape again heated, thereby avoiding the varying tensions orconditions incident, as above stated, to the usual method of heating andforging alternately and in sections.

It will be observed that as the ingot is entirely supported on one end,and as the anvil is adjusted to the varying irregularities of thesurface, that it is not subjected to the shearing strains incident tobalancing or supporting the ingot in a horizontal position over an anviland then subjecting it to the squeezing action of the moving die. Afterthe ingot has been forged to the desired shape it is lowered entirelyinto the pit and allowed to cool slowly therein, after which it isremoved and turned to its final size and shape. Then the dressed forgingis again lowered into the pit, its lower end being placed in the socket16. It is then raised into the furnace, where it is heated to the properheat for tempering. During this heating operation it can be loweredoccasionally into the pit and there inspected through the peep-hole 21,to ascertain if it is properly and uniformly heated. If the heat is notsufficient or uniform, the forging is again raisedinto the furnace, andthe burners are so regulated as to apply heat to such parts as are toocool and to cut off the heat from such portions as may be too hot. Assoon as it is ascertained bythe above method of inspection that theforging has been properly heated it is again raised in the furnace, andretained at that heat by regulating the supply of gas until the pit canbe filled with oil or any other suitable tempering-duid. The heatedforging is then rapidly lowered into oil in the pit and allowed to cooltherein. In lowering the heated forging into the oil its downward motionis momentarily arrested as soon as the socket has passed through theopening in the top plate, 19, and asbestus cloth is placed around theforging, completely covering the opening 20, and over the peep-hole 21.These coverings serve to protect the workmen around the pit from beingburned by the flame from the oil,which'iiashes up as soon as the heatedmetal is brought into contact with the oil. As the iiames cannot escapethrough the openings in the plate 19, they pass through the ue 30 intothe stack 31, provided for the purpose. As soon as the forging has beensuiiiciently cooled the oil is transferred from the pit into the tank 2Gby means of the pump 27. After the oil has been pumped ont the forgingis removed, when the apparatus is ready for operation on another ingot.

In lieu of the single ram shown in Fig. 1, three or four rams orelevators, 32, arranged around a central ram, 33, may be employed. Uponthe pistons of these rams 32 is supported, within the pit 11, across-head, 34, provided with a central opening, whose function will behereinafter stated.

In the periphery of the cross-head 34 is formed an annular groove orrecess, 35, adapted for the reception ofthe annular rib or pro,- jection36 formed on the under side of the socket 37. The groove 35 and rib 36are so constructed that the rib will rest and be supported on a bed ofoil or other liquid within the recess, thereby providing for the easyrotation of the socket. This socket 37 is constructed tovhold an annularingot, and is provided with a central openingcorresponding to theopening in the cross-head 34.

On the end of the piston of the central ram, 33, is formed a shank forthe reception of the mandrel 38. The peripheral or outside rams, 32, areso connected as to operate in unison, the central ram being operatedindependently.

In operating the above apparatus the crosshead is lowered to near thebottom ofthe pit 11, and the mandrel is lowered below the socket, thenthe annular ingot is placed in its socket and raised into theheating-furnace. After being properly heated the ingot is lowered untilits lower end is in posit-ion to be operated on by the press. Themandrel is then raised into the ingot, and the forging operation iscommenced. During this forging operation the mandrel is held in itsplace between the jaws of the press, and the ingot, as it is forged, islowered down over the mandrel. If desired, water may be caused tocirculate through the mandrel to keep it cool during the forgingoperation. In case a mandrel becomes too hot or in any way defectiveduring the forging operation, the ingot may be raised from around saidmandrel, the mandrel being simultaneously lowered. The jaws of the pressare then caused to move inward and firmly clasp the ingot. The ingotbeing thus supported, the cross-head is lowered away from the ingot, andthe mandrel can now be removed and another mandrel substituted therefor.

IIO

I propose in some cases to cast the ingot i around a heavy core-barthinly coated with some -suitable refractory material, and soconstructed as to permit of the circulation of a cooling mediumtherethrough. This heavy core-bar can be afterward utilized as amandrelduring the forging operations,bein g kept comparatively cool during orcooled after such operation by the circulation of a cooling medium.

By substituting a socket constructed to hold and support a solid ingotfor the socket 37 the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 may be employed inforging solid ingots.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. The combination ofhorizontally-acting dies and a vertically-acting lift as an apparatusfor the forging of heavy ingots, blooms,

&c., while in a vertical position, substantially lowering the ingot fromthe furnace to the I press, substantially as set forth.

3. ln a forging-plant, the combination of a horizontally-actingforging-press, a heatingfurnace located in a vertical plane passingbetween the jaws of said press, and means for moving the ingot from thefurnace to the press, substantially as set forth.

4. In a forging-plant, the combination of a horizontally-actingforging-press, an elevated heating-furnace, and a receiving pit, saidfurnace and pit being located in a vertical plane passing between thejaws of the press7 and means for moving the ingot from the furnacethrough between the jaws ofthe press and into the pit, substantially asset forth.

5. In a forging-plant, the combination of a horizontally-actingforging-press, an elevated heating-furnace, and a receiving-pit, saidfurnace and pit being located in a vertical plane passing between thejaws of the press, mechanism for raising and lowering the ingot, andmechanism for moving and holding the mandrel independent of themechanism for moving the ingot, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a heating-furnace, a

testing-pit located below the furnace and pro- WILLIAM I-IAINSWORTH.Vitnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLooTT, f R. H. WHITTLESEY.

